'Knock it off': Police announce summer crackdown on reckless driving, drag-racing

The problem of reckless driving in Indianapolis has captured public attention in recent years.

This summer, Indianapolis police are partnering with State Police to put more resources into cracking down on the reckless behavior.

Instead of abating as the initial shock of the pandemic wore off, the problem has only gotten worse, Indianapolis police say. Drag racers are speeding off after they get pulled over. Organized "spinning contests" are resulting in serious injuries and property damage. In each of the last two years, nearly 150 people have died in car crashes across the county, according to Indiana State Police data.

"Our city must do better when it comes to inattentive and reckless driving," Mayor Joe Hogsett said. "Knock it off, or pay the consequences."

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The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department plans use money within its operational budget to ramp up overtime patrols across the city and use its anticipated hundreds of thousands of dollars in American Rescue Plan money to purchase speed radar equipment for police cars that don't currently have them. With State Police, they've already begun targeted patrols at organized street races and pop-up spinning clubs on city streets, interstates and intersections.

"These efforts are not a one-size-fits-all," Indianapolis Police Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said. "We are addressing the specific issues brought to us by our community."

The effort will extend city-wide and last at least through the summer, Bailey said — possibly longer if the results prove effective. Resources will not be diverted away from violent crime prevention, which still remains a priority, he said.

"The safety of our residents is our No. 1 priority, and this includes our roadways," he said.

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IMPD launched a similar campaign last summer, diverting $130,000 over three months to cover overtime traffic patrols on 38th Street between High School Road and Emerson Avenue, along with a few other problem roads.

This year, across the city, police will focus especially on drag racing and spinning contests, where drivers take up an intersection or parking lot to spin their rear wheels in circles. These are often organized events that originate from social media, and sometimes charge admission, IMPD Special Operations Cmdr. Chuck DeBlaso said.

"I can't stress about how dangerous this really really is," he said, referencing videos IMPD has received of drivers losing control at these events and striking onlookers. "It has to stop, it truly does."

State Police started working with IMPD this spring to target drag racers and spinners. Since March, they have made 26 arrests, and in the process recovered 67 stolen vehicles and 17 firearms, State Police Lt. Jeff Hearon said.

The illegal activity isn't contained to one neighborhood, but is a city-wide problem, DeBlaso said.

For this initiative, each policing district will develop their own plans and resources will be allocated accordingly, Bailey said, declining to provide more detail on which streets will be targeted.

The American Rescue Plan money will go toward hand-held speed detecting equipment, license plate readers and public safety cameras.

38th Street, a common spot for drag racing, will be one focus in this year's campaign, Bailey said. The road saw 4% of the city's fatal crashes from 2015-20, according to a map of crash data compiled by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Organization; but the road only spans 0.5% of the city's total road mileage.

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IMPD officers have in recent years written fewer traffic tickets than they used to.

In 2007, the department had about 50 officers dedicated to traffic patrol who wrote more than 37,000 traffic tickets as recently as 2010, IndyStar's James Briggs reported last year. By 2018, IMPD had half as many traffic patrol officers and wrote about 8,000 tickets.

But so far this year, still with 25 officers on the regular traffic patrol unit, IMPD has written about 15,700 traffic tickets. While declining to specify exactly how much more overtime will be granted, Bailey said there will be an expanded emphasis overall on making stops for moving traffic violations, likely resulting in more fines.

"I know in this environment, with the way prices are, that's not something that you want to add to your budget, so my suggestion is you follow the rules of the road, be courteous, and get home safe," Bailey said.

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Police acknowledge traffic enforcement is only one tool to fight reckless driving, and that other solutions lie in education and infrastructure. IMPD partners with public works engineers and community advocates on a fatal crash review team that examines the reasons behind the incidents and what can be done.

While not the only long-term solution, increased enforcement can at least provide short-term relief, Crown Hill Neighborhood Association President Danita Hoskin said. She said she noticed less speeding through 38th Street in her neighborhood during the campaign last summer. She also noticed the speeding come right back once it was over.

But she's hopeful this campaign might go further. Safety is as important to her association, she said, as things like health care and food.

"I'm excited," she said. "We've been working on this for quite some time."

Contact IndyStar transportation reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IMPD, state police to target reckless driving, drag racing this summer